Nine young men on Sunday night were given smicha in Poland, marking the first time that such an event occurred in Poland since the Holocaust. They are members of the program headed by Rav Sholom Dov Ber Stembler.
The official ceremony was an emotional one, with the realization that the move represents a revitalization of Yiddishkeit following the horrors of the war. Among the notables attending the event was Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita. Rav Lau, who was born in Poland, is a child survivor of the Nazi atrocities and to many, represents the emergence of Torah and Rabbanus from the ashes of the ruins.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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6 Responses
I think it’s great that these people learned and got semicha, but does it make anyone else uneasy that this is a symbol of a possible revival of a Jewish community in Poland? Why would we ever want to go back there?
NoFear: I agree with you. As far as I always understood, the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT”L never wanted to send a Rov or Shliach to Poland, wanting to bring the remaining Jews out, rather than rebuild on that blood-soaked soil.
In the last decade though, Poland has become a vibrant center of international commerce with a concentration of Israeli businesspeople. I think this is a case of following and servicing the need, rather than–as I believe the Rebbe’s objection probably was–creating it.
It really has nothing to do with going back.
There a many jews living places like Germany and ukraine. Also in Russia. The ‘retzichois’ which hapened there are unhorgivable but we need to be mechazek the ones which are still there. If Chabad can get them to learn Toire and do mitvois I think it the biggest joy available. To be makadesh Hashems name in the midds of such ‘a fadorbene land’.
To: #2 ShalomChaver
Is there anyplace in eastern Europe that isn’t blood-soaked?
semicha
IN WHAT WHERE DID THEY LEARN IT AND WHAT DID THEY LEARN
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN POLAND OH ITS 60-70 YEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME
I KNOW THEM IN WARSAW THEY NEED PROPAGANDA
THEY WANT TO PROOF THAT WHAT THE REBBE DIDNT WANT A CHABAD HOUE IN POLAND THEY DO WANT
mazel tov! Quite beautiful that there is Torah being transfered in Poiland once again.